American Eloquence, Volume 1 eBook

I imagine I have stated to the committee abundant
reasons to prove the entire safety of the State governments
and of the people. I would go into a more minute
consideration of the nature of the concurrent jurisdiction,
and the operation of the laws in relation to revenue;
but at present I feel too much indisposed to proceed.
I shall, with leave of the committee, improve another
opportunity of expressing to them more fully my ideas
on this point. I wish the committee to remember
that the Constitution under examination is framed
upon truly republican principles; and that, as it
is expressly designed to provide for the common protection
and the general welfare of the United States, it must
be utterly repugnant to this Constitution to subvert
the State governments or oppress the people.

JAMES MADISON,

OF VIRGINIA. (BORN 1751, DIED 1836.)

ON THE EXPEDIENCY OF ADOPTING THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION—­CONVENTION OF
VIRGINIA,

June 6, 1788.

MR. CHAIRMAN:

In what I am about to offer to this assembly, I shall
not attempt to make impressions by any ardent professions
of zeal for the public welfare. We know that
the principles of every man will be, and ought to
be, judged not by his professions and declarations,
but by his conduct. By that criterion, I wish,
in common with every other member, to be judged; and
even though it should prove unfavorable to my reputation,
yet it is a criterion from which I by no means would
depart, nor could if I would. Comparisons have
been made between the friends of this constitution
and those who oppose it. Although I disapprove
of such comparisons, I trust that in everything that
regards truth, honor, candor, and rectitude of motives,
the friends of this system, here and in other States,
are not inferior to its opponents. But professions
of attachment to the public good, and comparisons
of parties, at all times invidious, ought not to govern
or influence us now. We ought, sir, to examine
the Constitution exclusively on its own merits.
We ought to inquire whether it will promote the public
happiness; and its aptitude to produce that desirable
object ought to be the exclusive subject of our researches.
In this pursuit, we ought to address our arguments
not to the feelings and passions, but to those understandings
and judgments which have been selected, by the people
of this country, to decide that great question by
a calm and rational investigation. I hope that
gentlemen, in displaying their abilities on this occasion,
will, instead of giving opinions and making assertions,
condescend to prove and demonstrate, by fair and regular
discussion. It gives me pain to hear gentlemen
continually distorting the natural construction of
language. Assuredly, it is sufficient if any
human production can stand a fair discussion.